Brush for cleaning kitchen utensils and method for making same

ABSTRACT

A brush is designed to clean the areas of a fork and particularly the spaces between the tines of the fork. The brush consists of a number of spaced brushes having interfitting bristles and are passed by interference fit between the tines. The bristles are vigorously passed back and forth between the tines. The bristles are held by braided stems and the stems are permanently imbedded within a thermoplastic handle by first heating the stems and then inserting the stems under pressure endwise within the handle, the heat causing a temporary softening of the plastic. Once the plastic hardens the brushes are held permanently by the handle which serves to mount the brushes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jack Wayne Colgan 1905 N. Tylano Blvd., New Haven, Ind. 46774 [21] Appl. No. 59,619

[22] Filed July 30, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 {54] BRUSH FOR CLEANING KITCHEN UTENSILS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 15/160, 15/111, 15/206, 300/21 [51] Int. Cl i A46b 3/00 {50] Field of Search 15/39,

2,341,728 2/1944 LeFebvre Primary Examiner- Daniel Blum Attorney-John A. Young ABSTRACT: A brush is designed to clean the areas of a fork and particularly the spaces between the tines of the fork. The brush consists of a number of spaced brushes having interfitting bristles and are passed by interference fit between the tines. The bristles are vigorously passed back and forth between the tines. The bristles are held by braided stems and the stems are permanently imbedded within a thermoplastic handle by first heating the stems and then inserting the stems under pressure endwise within the handle, the heat causing a temporary softening of the plastic. Once the plastic hardens the brushes are held permanently by the handle which serves to mount the brushes.

PAIENIEB mes an lNVENTOR JACK WAYNE COLGAN ATTORN Y BRUSH FOR CLEANING KITCHEN UTENSILS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are a number of brushes which have been developed for the purpose of cleaning utensils, but what is needed is a brush which is especially adapted for cleaning forks in those regions between the tines and the base of thetines where food tends to collect and sometimes coagulate. Automatic dishcleaning apparatus is ineffective for cleaning utensils such as forks and for sanitary cleaning, forks must be individually brushed with special brushes and the like. In order to clean adequately the inaccessible areas between tines in the forks, I insert the bristles between the tines and draw the brush back and forth vigorously to clean the base and adjoining confronting surfaces of the tines. It is difficult to produce a brush of this type since the individual bristles must be flexible and yet stiff enough to perform the cleaning action, and it is equally difficult to produce a brush in an economical manner which will meet these requirements.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the present invention is to produce a new and improved brush for cleaning kitchen utensils, and in particular such utensils as forks which are normally difficult to clean in the inaccessible areas between the tines of the fork.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved process for constructing a brush utilizing a thermoplastic handle in which the stem of the individual brushes are mounted within the handle by being first heated and then while still heated inserting them under pressure endwise for permanent welding in the handle of the brush.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method for mounting a plurality of brushes onto a plastic handle for cleaning operation.

DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the apparatus used for making the brush of this invention and illustrating the brush elements during the heating stage;

FIG. 2 illustrates the insertion of the brush elements within the handle;

FIG. 3 illustrates the method whereby the handle can be used for mounting additional brushes as well as those specific to cleaning eating utensils such as forks and the like;

FIG. 4 illustrates the brushes during cleaning of a fork utensil; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the cleaning brushes and fork illustrated in FIG. 4.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. I a fixture having openings 12 wherein is received one end of a plurality of brushes 14, I6 and 18. Each brush is comprised of a plurality of twisted wire strands which form a stem 19 that is used for mounting a number of radially extending bristles 20 which are fixed on the stem and are mechanically held thereby. The extending ends 28 of the stems 19 are passed through notches 30 of an upright portion 32 so as to be exposed to the heating action of a number of flame jets 34-42. The ends 28 of the individual stems l9 become heated as the fixture I0 moves in the direction of arrow 44, and while still heated are faced oppositely end 48 of a plastic handle 50 which is gripped and held within jaws 54, 56 of a holding fixture 58.

Fixture 10 after moving in the direction of arrow 44, positions the ends 28 of the stems l9 opposite end 48 as indicated in FIG. 2, and while the handle 50 is gripped, the heated ends 28 are inserted under pressure by movement of the fixture 10 in the direction of the arrow 62 (FIG. 2) and, owing to the composition of the plastic handle 50 which may be of such thermoplastic composition as polystyrene or the like, the

heated ends are of sufficient temperature so that they will,

under pressure of the advancing fixture 10 cause the heated ends to become imbedded interiorly of the handle 50 as indicated in FIG. 2. The dwell time for the wixture I2 is sufficient so that the slightly melted polystyrene surrounding the ends 28 will solidify and thereby permanently fix the stems 19 within the handle 50 causing the bristles to maintain their position during cleaning. During the insertion process, the stems 19 are prevented from buckling since they are held at opposite ends by means of the holes 12 and slot 30 of the fixture 10.

If desired, other brush implements can be inserted at other sides of the handle 50, an illustration of this being indicated in FIG. 3 where a second brush and one of larger configuration indicated by reference numeral 60 is inserted within side 62.

The handle 50 may also be tapered as indicated by side 70 to provide a scraping function which is also useful in cleaning kitchen ware such as pans or pots and the like. Thus, the handie, in addition to serving as a gripping action for the brushes l4, l6, 18, may also be used for other cleaning operations as well.

CLEANING OPERATION The brushes l4, 16, I8 are positioned relatively to a fork 62 so that the bristles can be force fitted between the tines and are cleaned by moving the brush back and forth with a vigorous scrubbing action to clean relatively inaccessible surfaces between the tines. The base of the tines can also be thoroughly cleaned and any food residue readily removed. The bristles of the brushes are relatively flexible and water impervious so that as they rub back and forth, they will remove any food particles which might be lodged between the tines 63 and the base 64, and the fork 66 can be completely cleaned.

Other plastic materials than polystyrene can be used and it is contemplated that any thermoplastic material which is meltable at a temperature by heating the ends 28, which are then inserted endwise can be used within the scope of the teachings of this invention. It is contemplated that other meltable thermoplastic materials which can serve for this invention include polyethylene, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, diollyl phtholate, methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate and polyvinyl chloride.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION To manufacture the brush of this invention, a plurality of brush elements are mounted within the fixture 10 with each of the brushes being individually held and the ends 28 are heated in some suitable manner as by a plurality of gas jet flames 34-42, and after being heated sufficiently and before cooling, the fixture 10, by movement in the direction of 44 brings the heated ends 28 of the stems l9 oppositely to the surface of end 48 of the handle 50, and the ends are then inserted by forcible pressing thereof so that each becomes uniformly imbedded within the thermoplastic handle 50. The heated ends 28 are of sufficient temperature to melt and permit penetration into the interior of 50 and are held for a sufficient period of time so that upon solidification the brushes are permanently retained.

The bond which is formed by this force fitting, melting and resolidification is adequate to permanently hold the brushes in a rigid and reliable grip, and they are not subject to being dislodged or being accidentally removed during use.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with certain selected example embodiments o the invention, it will be understood that this is illustrative of the invention and is by no means restrictive thereof. It is reasonable to be expected that those skilled in this art can make numerous revisions and adaptations of the invention, and it is intended that such revisions and adaptations will b included within the scope of the following claims as equivalents of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A process for inserting brushes into handles and the like comprising the steps of: mounting within a holding fixture a plurality of brushes, each having interlocked bristles and a metallic stem which grips and retains the bristles thereon, the stems being spaced, passing the stems into heating relation with a plurality of heating elements to impart a preferred temperature elevation of said stems, inserting simultaneously by endwise movement, the heated stems within an imperforate plastic handle of thermoplastic composition, the heated stems piercing the handle, and maintaining the brushes in side-byside relation until the plastic cools and effects a permanent grip upon the inserted portions of said stems.

2. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bristles are disposed in radially projecting relationship from the stems and are inter-fitted to provide a scrubbing action by force fitting the individual bristles within kitchen utensils and the like.

3 The process in accordance with claim 1 including the step of gripping the handle and holding it immobile while the heated stems are inserted endwise into the interior of said handie.

4. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heating means is comprised of a plurality of gas jets which develop heating of the brush stems as they are passed therethroughr S. The process in accordance with claim 1 including the step of mounting an additional brush element at an additional face of said handle.

6. An improved brush constructed in accordance with the process of claim 1 for cleaning kitchen utensils such as forks and the like comprising a thermoplastic handle forming a manual gripping means, a plurality of brushes including mounting stems which are imbedded in the interior of said handle, each of said stems having radially projecting bristles which extend transversely of said stems with the bristles of adjacent stems being intermingled and adapted by the flexing thereof for interference fit between the tines of forks and the like, said bristles being individually bendable to effect scouring as the brush is drawn together with the said associated bristles between the tine spaces formed within a fork or other kitchen utensil.

7. The brush construction in accordance with claim 6, wherein said stems are comprised of stiff braided wire having said bristles interlocked therewith.

8. The brush construction in accordance with claim 7, wherein said bristles are of water impervious composition.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3 ,629 ,895 Dated December 28 1971 w c 1 n lnventofls) Jack ayne 0 ga It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below;

Column ,2, .line 4, "wixture" should read fixture line 53, after "ends" insert 28 line 66, "0" should read of line 71, "b" should read be Signed and sealed this 6th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD DLFLETCHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-1050(10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 o--3ss-3u 

1. A process for inserting brushes into handles and the like comprising the steps of: mounting within a holding fixture a plurality of brushes, each having interlocked bristles and a metallic stem which grips and retains the bristles thereon, the stems being spaced, passing the stems into heating relation with a plurality of heating elements to impart a preferred temperature elevation of said stems, inserting simultaneously by endwise movement, the heated stems within an imperforate plastic handle of thermoplastic composition, the heated stems piercing the handle, and maintaining the brushes in side-by-side relation until the plastic cools and effects a permanent grip upon the inserted portions of said stems.
 2. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bristles are disposed in radially projecting relationship from the stems and are interfitted to provide a scrubbing action by force fitting the individual bristles within kitchen utensils and the like.
 3. The process in accordance with claim 1 including the step of gripping the handle and holding it immobile while the heated stems are inserted endwise into the interior of said handle.
 4. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heating means is comprised of a plurality of gas jets which develop heating of the brush stems as they are passed therethrough.
 5. The process in accordance with claim 1 including the step of mounting an additional brush element at an additional face of said handle.
 6. An improved brush constructed in accordance with the process of claim 1 for cleaning kitchen utensils such as forks and the like comprising a thermoplastic handle forming a manual gripping means, a plurality of brushes including mounting stems which are imbedded in the interior of said handle, each of said stems having radially projecting bristles which extend transversely of said stems with the bristles of adjacent stems being intermingled and adapted by the flexing thereof for interference fit between the tines of forks and the like, said bristles being individually bendable to effect scouring as the brush is drawn together with the said associated bristles between the tine spaces formed within a fork or other kitchen utensil.
 7. The brush construction in accordance with claim 6, wherein said stems are comprised of stiff braided wire having said bristles interlocked therewith.
 8. The brush construction in accordance with claim 7, wherein said bristles are of water impervious composition. 